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Stromboli volcano (Eolian Islands, Italy): sudden large explosion showers summit with lava bombs

Thu, 15 Jul 2021, 08:15 | BY: T
Thermal view of yesterday's large explosion at Stromboli (image: INGVvulcani / facebook)
Thermal view of yesterday's large explosion at Stromboli (image: INGVvulcani / facebook)
Tremor amplitude at STR station during the past 14 days (image: LGS / lgs.geo.unifi.it)
Tremor amplitude at STR station during the past 14 days (image: LGS / lgs.geo.unifi.it)
Current activity level (image: LGS)
Current activity level (image: LGS)
A stronger-then-usual explosion occurred yesterday afternoon at the volcano.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania reported that at 15:19 local time, an intense explosion took place from the vent in the Central-South crater area, sending lapilli and lava bombs to the upper Sciara del Fuoco and the Pizzo area (which used to be a popular viewing area, now closed).
Volcanic tremor increased temporarily to medium-high values starting from 14:30 and later decreased again to medium-low values. The explosion illustrates one of the main hazards when visiting the volcano from close: it came during a phase of generally low activity and had no detected precursor.
Overall, activity at the volcano had decreased from high in early June to comparably low levels over the past weeks, according to the latest daily summary published by the Experimental Geophysical Laboratory (LGS) of the University of Florence, which taks into account various observed and measured monitoring data.
During the latest 24 hour period published last night, the visible activity at the summit vents was characterized by weak degassing and small explosions from multiple vents, but mainly the central and southwestern ones, at high rate (144 events counted in total, or approx. 5-6 per hour on average). Explosions from the NE sector (towards Stromboli village) tended to be stronger.
The volcanic tremor was stable at medium values while degassing activity was low in SO2 and moderate in CO2. No significant deformation was noted recently.

Previous news

Wed, 30 Jun 2021, 06:00

Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 30 June-6 July 2021 (Continuing Activity)

INGV reported that during 28 June-4 July activity at Stromboli was characterized by ongoing explosive activity from three vents in Area N (North Crater area) and four vents in Area C-S (South-Central Crater area). Explosions from the N1 vent (Area N) ejected lapilli and bombs 150 m high, and produced minor ash emissions. Explosions at N2 vents (Area N) averaged 4-10 events per hour and ejected material 80 m high; spattering was intense on 28 June. ... Read all
Sat, 26 Jun 2021, 13:03

Stromboli volcano (Eolian Islands, Italy): magma surge produces short-lived lava flow on upper Sciara del Fuoco yesterday

The small lava flow on the upper Sciara del Fuoco on Stromboli yesterday afternoon (image: INGVvulcani / facebook)
A short period of elevated lava spattering produced a short-lived lava flow from the northern crater area to the upper Sciara del Fuoco yesterday afternoon from around 16:25. The flow lasted only a few hours at most and traveled about 100 m on the upper slope. Read all
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Stromboli volcano
stratovolcano 926 m
Eolian Islands, Italy, 38.79°N / 15.21°E
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5) Stromboli volcano eruptions:
Persistant (near-constant) activity since at least 2-3000 years. Most recent effusive (lava flow) eruptions from Dec. 2002-July 2003, March 2007, Aug-Oct 2014. Paroxysm 3 July 2019
Typical eruption style
Small explosive (strombolian) eruptions, typically every 20-30 mins. Intermittently, ca. every 2-20 years, minor effusive eruptions (lava flows); on average 2-5 times per year larger explosions.
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